LCWRT 523rd Meeting
The Day the South Really Lost the Civil War

Presented by James I. Robertson Jr.

Sunday, November 19

We are once again honored to have our longtime friend and Life Member of our Round Table, James I. ‘Bud’ Robertson Jr. visit us.  He is without question one of the preeminent Civil War scholars and lecturers of our time.  So many times in the past he has enlightened our members with informative and entertaining talks.  ‘Bud’ has written and edited over 20 books and countless articles and reviews during his distinguished career.   His latest book is “CIVIL WAR ECHOES—Voices From Virginia 1860 - 1891”.  His magnificent biography of Stonewall Jackson won eight national awards and served as the basis for the movie ‘Gods and Generals’.

James I. Robertson Jr. is a native of Danville, Virginia and a great grandson of a Confederate veteran of the Army of Northern Virginia.   He received his B.A. and Litt.D. degrees from Randolph-Macon College and M.A. and PhD degrees from Emory University, where he studied under famous Civil War historian Bell Wiley. He served as Executive Director of the U.S. Civil War Centennial Commission working with Presidents Kennedy and Johnson.  He has been honored with several major awards including the 1987 Fletcher Pratt Award, the 1988 Jefferson Davis Medal and the Freeman-Nevins Award. Bud continues to speak at seminars and other venues around the country and has finished ‘A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary: J. B. Jones’ that was recently published. 

Dr. Robertson recently retired from being the Alumni Distinguished Professor in History at Virginia Tech.  Since our founding in 1961, Bud Robertson has been a frequent and favorite speaker and we welcome him back once again for what will be a very special evening.

“The Day the South Really Lost the Civil War”

For 150 years historians and Civil War Round Tables have argued when the Confederacy reached its "high water mark"--when the signal came that the South's attempt at independence was going to fail.  A host of critical points has been proposed.  Antietam, Vicksburg, and Gettysburg traditionally lead the pack. Dr. Robertson plans to examine the possibilities and offer his own nomination as the Civil War's turning point.